Arsene Wenger feeling Europa League pressure ahead of Moscow clash

Author:
Barnaby Lane
April 4, 2018

Arsene Wenger says he is aware of the extra pressure on his side ahead of tomorrow night’s Europa League clash against CSKA Moscow.

The Gunners welcome the Russian side to The Emirates for the first leg of their quarter-final clash tomorrow, and will be hoping for a repeat performance of that from the previous round when they beat AC Milan 3-1 to progress to the last eight.

Wenger’s side currently sit sixth in the league and all but out of reach of the top four, meaning winning the Europa League remains their only hope of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

And the Frenchman says he understands the extra pressure on his side to deliver tomorrow evening.

“Yes, there is some extra pressure on us to do extremely well in this competition,” said Wenger, “That’s part of being where we are.

“I must say we have to see it in a way that it’s an opportunity we want to take and keep the priorities right – that means focusing on how well we play together, on the quality of our game, on how we want to play football. After, the consequence will be a positive result.”

Wenger, despite winning 10 major honours during his time as Arsenal manager, has failed to secure a European trophy during his two-decade tenure at the club.

The 68-year-old however, remains grounded on his hope’s of breaking that duct this season.

“We don’t live in dreamland, we are in a quarter-final and we have to be very realistic and go step by step and give everything to go through in the quarter-final. Then we’ll see.”